Join us for Bicycle Day in Jefferson City February 26th, 2008

Missouri bicyclists, walkers, runners, and trail users,

You are invited to Bicycle Day in Jefferson City with the Missouri Bicycle Federation on Tuesday, February 26th, 2008.

We would like to have at least 30 people from all across Missouri at Bicycle Day this year. Please invite your friends, colleagues, bicycling friends, and fellow club members!

We would like to have all major clubs, organizations, and geographical areas represented.

We are planning to create packets for each person coming to Bicycle Day, so please confirm your attendance with me (director@mobikefed.org) ASAP.

Our goal is to visit as many of the approximately 200 Missouri senators and representatives as we can on February 26th. We will divide into groups and visit elected officials or staff members if we can and dropping off prepared packets of information for them otherwise.

We will also give awards to a number of elected officials who have been helpful to the cause of bicycling, walking, running, and/or trails in Missouri.

And, we'll have a great time!


Tentative schedule
7-8am - set up tables/displays, capitol 3rd floor rotunda (only necessary if you have display materials to set up)

8-8:45am - Meet at breakfast location (exact location TBA, but easy walking distance from capitol)

9:00 - Move to Capital

9:15 - Meet with Jim Farrell, MoBikeFed lobbyist, for tips & suggestions for legislative meetings.

9:30-10:30 - visits to legislators

10:30-11:30 - Awards presentation, Senate Lounge (across from Rm 327), tentatively: Lt. Gov. Kinder, Speaker Jetton, Senator Bray, at least 4 other legislators honored

11:30-12:30 - More legislator visits

12:30-1:30 - Lunch (location TBA)

1:30-5:00 - More legislator visits

Map of capitol building location.

If your schedule does not permit attending the entire day, please plan to join us for the morning, the afternoon, or whatever part of the day your schedule allows.


What will we talk about?
The most important part of the visit is to meet legislators and/or staff in person, give them a friendly greeting, and let them know you are a real, live person who bicycles in Missouri.

As for the issues--we will have a packet with issue papers for each of the bills or issues we are discussing this year.

If you want to familiarize yourself with the main issues, look at our issue papers from last year (near the bottom of the page):
* 2008 Legislative Priority: Complete Streets policy tied to any new MoDOT funding
* 2008 Legislative Priority: Traffic infractions that injure or kill

Can I bring display materials or handouts?
Yes, please! We have four tables reserved and (unfortunately because of another competing event) cannot reserve any more. But let's fill those tables up with materials. If we have more than four groups wanting to display we will just share the available space equally.

Last year, several of us brought bicycles into the rotunda and this made a simple but very effective display. If you have a high-wheeler, and antique bicycle, a recumbent, or any kind of unusual bicycle, that would be great. But even just an ordinary bicycle is fine, too.

Can I talk about our local issues?
Of course you can talk about your local issues with your local legislators. They are often most helpful in moving citywide, countywide, or region-wide issues forward.

I suggest making up a one-page issue paper for any issue you wish to discuss. If you can put it on the letter head or use the logo of your local club or group that would help.

We plan to have people from a certain geographical area visit their own local legislators together as a group, so that will be your opportunity to talk about your local issues as well as the statewide MoBikeFed issues.

Background information

You can lookup your local legislators and information about them here.

MBF Board Member Eric Rogers is planning to create a packet for each person who is attending, that will have specific information about your legislators.

So, again, please confirm attendance by emailing me (director@mobikefed.org).

Look forward to seeing you in Jefferson City on February 26th!

--Brent